The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-06
READING FOR THE SABBATH.

: n
Christ's Witness to John.-Goiden Text Matt
VI IS.
Monday-The testimony of John, Matt. H, 2-15.
Tuesday-The testimony of Jesus, John v, 2135.
Wednesday-The Fathers witness, John v, 3647.
Thursday-Jesus own claim, John iv, 1916.
Friday-The forerunner foretold, Nal. ill., 1-6
iv, 1-6.
1855.
sunday-The death Of John the Baptist, Matt. xiv
1-12.
l. The coming of Johns disciples to Christ
with their masters message took place. accord
ing to Luke vii, after the healing of the
noblenan's servant at Capernaum. (See Lesson
/. Matt. vii 5-13l Leaving Capernaum Jesus
goes to Main, where he restores a widows son to
life duke vii Hid, and it evidently
while sojourning in this part of the country that
the embassy from john arrived. This would
bring it in midsummer A. d. %, and about two
years from Johns first appearance the great
desert preacher.
Johns ministry was short but influential.
He stirred Judea as Judea had not been stirred
for centuries, and he brought it for one splendid
moment to an enthusiasm for better things.
His was stern ministry. He opened it with
unsparing condemnation of hypocrisy and
worldliness He denounced the wickedness of
those in high places, and for his bluutness
ceived hatred and malgnty. Herod Antipas
was an adulterer. John told him So His con-
sort planned the audacious preachers death
into prison luke iii, 1917, and it
was While waiting r.; there every n m. moment
ports of Christs successful ministry
brought to him. Some have supposed that in q
moment OF disappointment and encouragement
John sent his disciples for reassuring message.
This seems to have been the impression of the
people, which our Lord takos instant occasion
to correct ". 7-11.l Others regard the embassy
of Johns method of getting assurance for his
disciples sake. since, if Christ the
Messiah. it would be the duty of these to ac-
knowledge Him as such: Whatever the reason,
a sufficient reply Was given, and the messen-
gers returned 10 their imprisoned mas
ter. Not long after, at celebration
her daughter Salome, secured tho sentence of
death against John. Night has fallen; the stars
burn like balls of fire in tie glorious frmament
splendid. even amid the natural@ magnifcence OF
their surroundings, rise the great walls OF the
MachHrus palace: above. the brilliant lights and
the shouts of reyelry; below. the gloom and
darkness of the prison grave. The stalwart
preacher in his cell; the sound of footsteps is
heard in the passage; the door swings open;
brief word is spoken the princely neck is bowed;
the cleaning scimitar descends, and he is dead,
''Who willed to live alone
And for dance was led to martyrdom."
POINTS FOR ARROWS.
i. We do not now look for another, but we
do look for Christ's coming again.
2 Doubts will inevitably come, but they will
not stay if they are taken directly to Christ.
g. Doubts not likely to come to those who
at work. 00 QeVil LOIS Ino DuSv OuElStIdu
pretty much alone.
T. blessed is he whatsoever shall find none oc-
casion of stumbling in me-" Usually 1t is not
until one has found some occasion of stumbling
within himself that he stumbles over Christ. He
who lives near to Christ realizes this beati-
tude.
5. The best evidence that Christ is come is
the works which we still see and hear of His
doing He still makes the spiritually blind to
see, the deaf to hear and restores to life those
who dead in trespasses and sins
siah was that to the poor the gospel is preached.
When in any community that ceases to be DONE
then il is evident that Jesus is not present
Z. Only for a little was John the Baptist
shaken like reed When he fell he fell like
A John the Baptist wasmors than a prophet.
He was also the friend of the Bridegroom"
g. The greatness of John was shown IN his
humility. When Jesus came he was willing to
decrease. that his Lord might increase.
TO- Great was John, the least in the king
dom of heaven is greater than he. How much
more favored were they who permitted to
cross the Jordan and to live in Canaan than was
Moses, who only had view of the promised
land from the heights of Neboi
IL. John was the ''frepd of the Bridegroom"
but Christ's disciples members of his body!
IL. It is better to be the least in the kingdom
Of heaven than to be the greatest without
Is. To believe in John the Baptist is to believe